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@modem A BPPLER J SOLE LAYING MACHINE. Y

No. 315,923.. Patented Apr, 14, 1885.

. i Ir UNITED STATES Pnrnn'r rricn.

ANDREW EPPLER, JR., OF BOSTON, MASSAGHUSETTS7 ASSIGNOR TO THE BOOT AND SHOE SOLE LAYING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MANE.

SOLELAYING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,923, dated April 14,18%.

` i i Application led January 25, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LANDREW EPPLER, Jr., of Boston, inthe countyof Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Sole-Laying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'jto that class of solelaying machines in which a series of independently-yielding pads or sole-supporting sections are employed to press a cement-coated sole against a lasted upper and hold it while the cement is setting or-` hardening, as shown in Letters Patent of the United States granted to me September 2, 1884, No. 304,416.`

The invention has for its obj ect, iirst, to pro-- vide certain improvements in the sectional sole-support, whereby the .pads or sections thereof are made yielding in any desired direction; secondly, to provide means whereby the pressure ofthe sole-support against the sole may be commenced at the toe and caused to progress gradually to the heel; and, thirdly, to provide improved means for operating the solesupport.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sole-laying machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of the solesupport on line .fr x, Fig. 2. Fig. fi represents a transverse section of the same on line y g/,Fig 1. Fig. 5 represents atop view of the solesupport.

. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the iignres.

In the drawings, c represents the base or supporting portion of the frame-worky of the machine, from which rise two standards, b b.

c represents a cross-head adapted to move vertically on the standards b, and supported by nuts d el, screwed upon the threaded upper portions of the standards, and swiveled in sockets in the cross-head, so that when said nut-s are simultaneously rotated they will rise or fall on the standards, and thus raise or lower the cross-head.. The nuts d d are formed on their margins as pinions, and both engage with a pinion, e, pivoted on the cross-head, said pinion,when rotated, operating both nuts. The

cross-head is provided with lateral armsff,

the lower edges of which constitute guides for two movable standards, g y, one supporting a toe-rest, h, and the other a spindle, i., which is formed to enterthe spindle-socket in a last, j. A right and left screw-threaded rod, k, swiveled in an cant, affixed to the crosshead c, and passing through corresponding]y-threaded sockets in the standards'g g, enables said standards to be moved simultaneously in opposite directions, to accommodate them to lasts of different sizes, as shown in my pending application iiled December 18, 1884, Serial No. 150,638.

y, m represents a frame having ears which are capable of sliding on the standardsb b. n repi resents a bed-plate formed with `vertical sides,

like a'boX, said sides being provided with ears o o, which are Vconnected to the frame by pivfots pp, so that the bed or plate can oscillate freely in the direction of its length. r r 1 1' represent a series of plates or sections, which collectively vform a sole-support, each being preferably curved to approximate to the curvature or inclination of a given portion of the sole. Said plates or sections are supported bya number of springs, s s, interposed between their under sides and the bed or plate u, each plate or section having a sufficient number of springs to support it in its normal position and permit it to be tipped or inclined in any desired direction. The sections are thus enabled to conform to the bottom of the last, so that in case the last is somewhat inclined sidewise in consequence of an inclination in the spindle-socket in the last, or from any other cause, the sections can readilyadapt themselves to such inclination. IThe springs are kept in place in the present instance by studs on the lower surfaces oi' the plates and sockets in the bed or plate a, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

A sheet of rubber, t, is preferably placed on the upper surfaces of the sections l', to form the direct bearing for the sole to be cemented.

Ia represents an arm projecting downwardly from the bed or plate a under the toe-supporting end of the sectiona viable-support. A spring, o, interposed betweeii said arm and the frame m, acts to press said arm away from the frame, and thus turn the bed on its pivots, so as to raise the toe-supporting end of the sectional sole-support, and cause said end to act i OC:

- member.

support to gradually assume the position shown in Fig. l, the pressure of the sectionaly support against the sole progresses gradually from the toe to the heel. This method of applying the sole-viz., by pressure commencing at the toe and progressing toward the heelis found to produce better results than pressure applied simultaneously to all parts of the sole.

The rear end of the bed n is provided with an arm or stop, w, which abuts against the frame m, to limit the upward throw of the tocsupporting end of the sole-support by the spring o.

The frame m is supported and raised and lowered by means of a pivoted treadle-lever, a', having an arm, b', a link, c', pivoted to the arm b', and a shorter link, d', pivoted at e to the link c', and at j" to the frame m. The links d c constitute one member of a togglejoint, whereof thelever-arm b is the other The links d c also constitute the members of a second toggle-joint, whereby the frame m may be given an upward or downward movement in addition to that given by the joint` action of the lever-arm b and links d c.

Vhen it is desired to depress the frame m to the lowest possible point, the treadle-lever a is released to throw the arm b' out of line with the links c' d', as shown in Fig. l, and the pressure is applied to the link d to throw it out of line with the link c', the link d being provided with a short handle or lever, i, forl this purpose. The bed is thus fully depressed, and the sole-support is entirely separated from the last. Vhen it is desired to raise the sole-support to pressa cemented sole against a lasted upper, the operator first, by means ofthe handle i', throws the links d.c into line, as shown in Fig. 1, thus partially raising the bed and sole-support, and then by depressing the treadle a additionally raises the sole-support and presses the sole firmly against the upper. The treadle may be secured by any suitable means to maintain the pressure while the cement is setting.

This compound toggle-j oint enables a greater extent of vertical movement to be given the sole-support than would be practicable with an ordinary toggle -joint operated by footpower without greater complication of mechanism.

rlhe links c d have stops m m on their rear sides, which labut against each other and prevent their connected ends from being thrown forward of the position they 'occupy when the links are in line with each other. Similar stops, n n', are provided on the front sides of said links, to limit the movement of the links which throws them out of line with each other.

The vertical adjustability of the crosshead4 c by means of the nuts d d, as above described, enables the last to be raised orlowered, as may be required.

I do notl limit myself in all cases to the details of construction and the specic combinations above described. The bed or plate n, pivoted to rock in the direction of the length of the sole, may be used with differently-constructed sole-supporting devices-for example, those shown in my pending application above referred to.

The improved sole-support shown and described maybe used with a frame or holder which is not pivoted. y

Any other suitable means may be employed for raising and lowering the frame m and the sole-support, Y

I do not claim, broadly, means for pressing the toe portion of the sole against the lasted upper, as I am aware that the same resultlias been accomplished by means differing from those above shown.

I claim- 1. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a jack or last-holder, a frame movable toward and from said jack, a bed or support pivoted to said frame, anda sole-support composed of independently-yielding sections or pads supported by the pivoted bed, as set forth.

2. In a sole-laying machine, the combination of a jack or last-holder, a frame movable toward andfrom said holder, a bed provided with a sole-support pivoted to said frame so as to be capable of rocking in the direction of the length of the sole-support, and a spring IOO whereby the bed is vnormally turned on its' pivots to raise the toe portion ofthe sole-support, as set forth.

3. The combination of the bed or plate n,

. a sole-support composed of a series of independent sections, r, a series of springs interposed between the sections and bed, whereby each section is supported in its normal position and permitted to tip in any direction therefrom, a jack or last-support, and means, substantially as described, for exerting press` ure on a soleinterposed between a last on the jack and the sole-support, as set forth.

4. In a sole-laying machine, the combination, with a movable sole-support and mechanism, substantially as described, for raising and depressing the same, of a jack or lastholder, a cross-head supporting said jack, nuts d d, swiveled in said cross-head, threaded supporting-standards engaged with said nuts, and means, as described, whereby said nuts IIO may be rotated in unison to adjust the jack ver or handle i pivoted to the frame, the link' c, pivoted to the link d', and the treadle-le.- name to this specicaton, in the presence of ver having an arm, b', pivoted to the ink c', two subscribing Witnesses, this 17th day of 1o as set forth. h h d January, 1885.

6. The combination, Witt e frame m an 7 4 5 its sole-supporta, of the links d c', having the ANDRE EPPLER" JR' stops m fm and n n', and the treadle-lever a', Witnesses: having the arm b', as set forth. C. F. BROWN, In testimony whereof I have signed my H. BROWN. 

